CF-74 Touchscreen/Wireless issues!

Whoops! Bought another CF-74 without doing my homework first. The good news is that I finally have a model that most of you guys will have heard of. The bad news being no WLAN and an inoperative touchscreen.
It appears I have a CF-74FCBCZBM which looks to be a Federal version with touchscreen but no WLAN. It's a 2.0Ghz MK2 version. Apart from a missing ram cover and no caddy it looks complete and intact. Booted up to BIOS and no passwords. Decided to stick a HD with the MK1 OE XP on it and was surprised to see it boot up to Windows! Everything seems to function so I am guessing they just upped the processor on the MK2.
So onto the issues. As the MK1 had no touchscreen I managed to find the driver and load it. When it comes to the test screen with the red crosses, nothing happens when you press on the screen. So I am guessing that its already dead. I do actually have another touchscreen from a donor MK1 but before I strip this one down I thought it was wise to ask whether there is a test to make sure the donor touchscreen is functioning.
I have found reference to some resistances (200/600 ohms) between the various tracks (1&3,2&4?). So some clarification would be useful.
The lack of WLAN gives me the opportunity to upgrade. I have found a source of the popular Intel 5100 with what appears to be the correct TA 010 suffix which another member used successfully in a CF-52. Unfortunately the seller has not answered by question as to the source of the cards and is charging a substantial premium over the more plentiful examples. Anther option is a Intel 6200 from an i5 CF-52. This is half height so I am not familar with what else it would need other than the adaptor bracket. In an ideal world I would prefer a card that the BIOS recognises and has at least the 5100 performance.
Lastly it has a NA keyboard! Guess I can live with that for the time being!
So any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

 

I have the G model with no wlan, nothing in the BIOS...it's blank. I have had no time to work on it but soon will. It did have the antenna's in it.

 

Yep, I am assuming that the antennas are fitted so just a card to fit. If not I have some from the donor which I would fit if I tackle the touchscreen. Seem to remember its a major disassembly to get to the WLAN slot as the whole bottom cover has to come off. So only want to do that once if possible!

 

Beware.. A lot of the Federal units do not have BIOS support for WLAN (wifi). Swap in any card you have first to test the BIOS.

 

Ok. Thanks for the info Shawn. There is obviously nothing shown in the BIOS as it shouldn't have a card. Might try the OE 4965 from the CF-52 I have to see whether it works or not before splashing out on a wireless card.
If need be I could swap in the spare MB from the donor MK1 but that sort of defeats the object!

 

Oh well! Did want to wait longer than 24hrs before taking it apart.
It does indeed have the antennas. The terminals were just taped up in the empty wireless card location.
I tried the CF-52 Intel 4965 first but it was not regonised in the BIOS altough something did appear in the Device Manager as Network Adaptor. Took it apart again and tried a 3495 from a CF-51. This time Wireless Lan appeared in the BIOS and once booted up everything works including the wireless switch.
So it looks as though the CF-74 is going to be as fussy as the other models over the wireless card. So it might be back to the Pin 20 mod!

 

Same as toughasnails here, I plan on doing some bios swapping as soon as I finish the clear out project. I do have a G model that is "normal" so I will have to back up and do some testing if it won't accept a card or the 20 pin mod won't work. The reason windows still worked is the Chipset (945) and cpu (core duo) is the same on that model between the Mk1 and Mk2.

 

Lucky you, I just tried 2 different cards in mine and nothing (CF-74K)

 

Bit more info.
As it happens another identical spec CF-74 turned up which if nothing else had a caddy/HD so I bought that as well!
This also had TS issues, and as it was a bit battered I felt there was nothing to lose in using it to experiment further.
Sometime ago I bought a battered CF-74 from Germany to replace the broken screen in my first CF-74. It was a TS model but I only used the LCD. The actual TS had sat in the spares heap since. I remembered that someone had said that a good TS would show resistance between pins 1-3 and 2-4. Sure enough it did appear to show resistance so thought it was worth a shot at repacing the dead one.
I have had more luck removing the screen bezels on the CF-74 than the CF-51 without breaking them but its still a horrible job. Perhaps the unseasonal hot weather in the UK made it more flexible! On the CF-74 the screen is basically held in with rubber buffers around the edges. I carefully peeled the original TS off and tested the 4 wire connector but they were both open circuit. I hooked up the connector and attached the TS back to the screen, booted the computer, want to the calibration programe and was pleasantly surprised to see for the first time the red cross move accross the screen!
So flushed with success I decided to try a 5100 with the pin 20 mod in it. After loading the drivers for the WLAN that also seems to work. Don't seem able to run the wireless switch utility so cannot switch it off physically although I think I can turn it off via the WLAN software. Forgotten already!
So for a few hours effort have managed to make a useless Toughbook useful again!

 

I don't "like" anything but I like this enough to say good show.

Jeff:thumbsup:

 

Thanks for coming back with the final results. It will probably help someone else looking for answers.
If it weren't for the info on this forum, there wouldn't be much Toughbook tinkering.
Thanks to all of the contributors!
Philip

 

Couldn't agree more!
Despite running the Panasonic wireless switch programme several times it still does not function so no physical control. If you are letting Windows manage the WiFi then it is possible to switch it off through the SW.
Guess I will have to treat myself to a proper stylus!

 

More WLAN experiments!
A genuine Panasonic variant Intel 6200 was purchased in the vain hope that it would magically appear in the BIOS and all would be right with the world. The CF-74 is not really a good model to play with due to the fact that you have to take the whole bottom cover off to access the card. I am getting good at that!
Basically the 6200 does not show up in the BIOS nor does it function. Despite showing in the Device Manager as working the available diagnostics show either no physical card installed or the radio hardware switch is off. The physical switch made no difference. This is consistant with others experience so it was back to the Pin 20 mod.
This time it worked. I used a driver package from the i5 CF-52 equipped with that card and it appeared to install without any issues. The physical wireless switch is not operative. Not really sure if its much better than a full size 5100. Not sure what to expect as there are a few variables. Was looking to get as powerful a card as possible within reason but it seems to fluctuate a bit from as much as 130Mbps to the low 50Mbps. A stock 3495 seems pegged at 54Mbps but stable. So probaly an improvement. Had it been a solid 130Mbps I might have been more impressed!
So I am assuming that the Pin 20 mod removes the wireless switch issue as its off without covering the pin and on when you do. It might be more complicated than that though! Bit frustrating as it would be nice to have everything working as Panasonic intended. A more powerful card is desirable so a bit short sighted not to allow an upgrade without a bit of a bodge. It also indicates the futillity of purchasing a card from a later Panasonic model, in this case a CF-C1, as they do not seem to be recognised either. So not worth paying what sometimes is quite a premium for ex-Toughbook parts as you might as well go for a cheaper non Panasonic origin one. I did not pay the Panasonic Premium or the Toughbook Tax!

 

Try a card that requires 3 antennas. You will have to add the 3rd antenna. An intel 4965agn, Make sure it's the n version with the 3rdantenna. Or an intel 5300 or even intel 6300. Speed will increase to a stable 144mbps. Depending on where the card comes from, you may have to do the pin 20 mod....... I did this on my cf52 and my Motion computing C5. The C5 already had the 3rd antenna. Both jumped from 72mbps to 144mbps. I upgraded from a 5100 with 2 antennas on both.

 

I'll keep that in mind!
My first experience with these mini cards and the adaptors. Bit concerned over the screw lengths so put some tape over the bottom! Actually the antenna cables have a better run with the smaler card at least on this model. Thought it would give me some more card options to try.
The 3rd antenna sound like an idea. Guess that would give the full N capability. Anyway for the time being at least I have some wireless capability on an originally WLANless equipped Federal model here in the UK!

 

Hello, I just did the same thing and this thread helped in saving me time. I have a CF-51 that did not pass the drop test I had, So I used the card from it and was up and running. Just wanted to say thanks.

Dale